Abstract:
Introduction: Nearly fifty percent of under-five death occur in the neonatal period. Neonates are more likely to show subtle signs of illness, and such signs are said to be neonatal danger signs. Early recognition of such signs by families is quite imperative to reduce neonatal mortality via improving immediate care-seeking for ill neonates. Despite the fact that fathers are the primary ones for deciding and financing newborns’ care, particularly in a patriarchal community, their knowledge of neonatal danger signs remains under-studied.
Objective: This study aimed to assess fathers’ knowledge of neonatal danger signs and associated factors in Enarji Enawga Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: A Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 13 to June 13, 2022, in Enarji Enawga Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. Stratified random sampling was used to select 613 fathers. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were checked for completeness and entered into Epi-Data Version 3.1, and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 for analysis. The result was presented using tables, figures, and text. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression with 95% confidence interval and odds ratio were used to identify factors associated with fathers’ knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Statistical significance was declared at P-Value<0.05
Result: Only 23.26 %( 95%CI: 19.9, 26.8) of fathers had good knowledge of neonatal danger signs. Secondary education (AOR=2.98, 95%CI [1.08, 8.24]),college and above educational status (AOR= 3.45, 95% CI [1.09-10.85]), number of children (AOR=3.68, 95%CI [1.62, 8.34]), history
of sickness of index baby (AOR= 2.18, 95%CI [1.18, 4.01]), father attendance at Post Natal Care visit (AOR=4.32, 95%CI [2.06, 9.08]), history of neonatal death (AOR= 3.94, 95%CI[1.80-8.64]), got information on neonatal danger signs (AOR= 2.71, 95%CI [1.3, 5.64]), and health professional as a source of information (AOR= 3.27, 95%CI [1.52, 7.04]) were factors associated with fathers’ knowledge of neonatal danger signs.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Knowledge of fathers on neonatal danger signs was low comparable with previous study in Ethiopia. Therefore; great effort is needed to improve fathers’ knowledge of neonatal danger signs, like involving them in postnatal care of mother and newborn, and providing information on such danger signs.
Key words: Fathers, knowledge, awareness, neonatal danger sign, Enarji Enawga